What is echo test for heart

An echocardiogram is an ultrasound image of the heart. It can help doctors diagnose a range of heart problems. Doctors use echocardiograms to help them diagnose heart problems, such as damaged cardiac tissue, chamber enlargement, stiffening of the heart muscle, blood clots in the heart, fluid around the heart, and damaged or poorly functioning heart valves. In this article, we explain how doctors use echocardiograms, what to expect during the test, and how to interpret the results. Share on Pinterest An echocardiogram helps a doctor diagnose heart problems. Echocardiography uses It is a noninvasive medical procedure that produces no radiation and does not typically cause side effects. During an echocardiogram, a doctor can see: • the size and thickness of the chambers • how the valves of the heart are functioning • the direction of blood flow through the heart • any blood clots in the heart • areas of damaged or weak cardiac muscle tissue • problems affecting the pericardium, which is the fluid filled sac around the heart Doctors also use echocardiography when they want to examine a person’s general heart health, especially after a Doctors can use echocardiograms to: • determine how well the heart is pumping blood • assess the reasons for an abnormal electrical test of the heart, called an electrocardiogram (EKG) • diagnose • locate blood clots or tumors • assess the pressure in the heart to diagnose a condition called pulmonary • identify congenital heart abnormalities in...

What is an echocardiogram? An echocardiogram (echo) uses high frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to make pictures of your heart. The test is also called echocardiography or diagnostic cardiac ultrasound. The types of echocardiograms are: • Transthoracic echocardiography • Stress echocardiography • Transesophageal echocardiography • Three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography Why is it needed? An echo test can allow your health care team to look at your heart’s structure and check how well your heart functions. The test helps your health care team find out: • The size and shape of your heart, and the size, thickness and movement of your heart’s walls. • How your heart moves during heartbeats. • The heart’s pumping strength. • If the • If blood is leaking backwards through your heart valves ( • If the heart valves are too narrow ( • If a tumor or infectious growth is around your heart valves. The test also will help your health care team find out if you have: • Problems with the outer lining of your heart (the pericardium). • Problems with the large blood vessels that enter and leave the heart. • Blood clots in the chambers of your heart. • Abnormal holes between the chambers of the heart. What are the risks? An echo doesn’t hurt and has no side effects. How do I prepare for the echo? Specially trained technicians conduct echo tests. You may have your test done in a medical office, emergency room, operating room, hospital clinic or hospital room. The test takes about an hour. Wh...

Other terms for an echocardiogram include: • Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) • Cardiac echo • Cardiac ultrasound Purpose of the Test A cardiac echo is used to identify abnormalities in the heart's structure and function. A handheld device sends out sound waves that bounce off your heart and create a moving image of it on a screen. This allows your healthcare provider to look at the • Problems with the heart valves: For example, • The velocity, or speed, of blood flow within the heart: A special microphone called a Doppler can be used during the test to measure this. This is helpful in measuring problems with blood flow in conditions such as • Anatomical defects: tetralogy of Fallot and • Left ventricular ejection fraction: "Ejection fraction" is a term used to describe how strong the heart is and how well it pumps blood. An echo can evaluate how well various cardiac treatments are working in people with conditions such as • Cardiac arrhythmia: An echo can assess your heartbeat. This may help in determining the exact cause and best treatment if you do have an arrhythmia, or irregular heart rhythm. If you are paying for the test yourself, it is likely to cost you several thousand dollars. This includes facility fees, technical fees, equipment fees, and a professional fee. These costs can range widely and it is highly likely that your healthcare provider and the other healthcare providers taking care of you do not know the cost of the echo. You can ask the facility what th...

Chambers and valves of the heart Ejection fraction is a measurement of the percentage of blood leaving the heart each time it squeezes. When the heart squeezes, it's called a contraction. Ejection fraction is just one of many tests your health care provider may use to see how your heart works. The heart contracts and relaxes. When the heart contracts, it pumps out — ejects — blood from the two lower heart chambers, called ventricles. When the heart relaxes, the ventricles refill with blood. No matter how forceful the contraction, the heart can never pump all the blood out of a ventricle. The term "ejection fraction" is the amount of blood — as a percentage — that's pumped out of a filled ventricle with each heartbeat. The ejection fraction is usually measured only in the left ventricle. The left ventricle is the heart's main pumping chamber. It pumps oxygen-rich blood up into the body's main artery, called the aorta. The blood then goes to the rest of the body. According to the American Heart Association: • A left ventricle (LV) ejection fraction of about 50% to 70% is categorized as normal. • A mildly reduced LV ejection fraction is usually between 41% and 49%. • A reduced LV ejection fraction is usually 40% or less. Even if you have a normal ejection fraction, your overall heart function may not be healthy. Talk with your health care provider if you have concerns about your heart. Some things that may cause a reduced ejection fraction are: • Weakness of the heart muscle,...

An echocardiogram is a test that uses Why Do I Need an Echocardiogram? Your doctor may order an echocardiogram to: • Look for • Monitor heart valve disease over time • See how well medical or surgical treatments are working What Are the Types of Echocardiograms? There are several types of these tests. Your doctor will tell you more about which is best for you. Transthoracic echocardiogram This is the standard test. It’s like an X-ray but without the radiation. Specialists use the same technology to check a A technician will put a hand-held device called a transducer on your chest. It sends high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) that bounce off your On the day of the test, eat and drink as you usually would. Take all of your You’ll take off your clothing from the waist up and put on a hospital gown. A specialist called a cardiac sonographer will put three electrodes (small, flat, sticky patches) on your chest. The electrodes are attached to an electrocardiograph monitor ( You’ll lie on your left side on an exam table. The sonographer will run a wand (called a sound-wave transducer) across several areas of your chest. There will be a small amount of gel on the end to help create clearer pictures. Changes in the sound waves, called Doppler signals, can show the direction and speed of You may or may not hear the sounds during the test. The sonographer might ask you to move around so they can take pictures of different areas of your heart. They might also ask you to hold your ...

Share on Pinterest Echocardiogram is a special test that uses an ultrasound machine to look at the structure and function of the heart. Echocardiogram is a special test that uses an ultrasound machine to look at the structure and function of the heart. Chaikom/Shutterstock Echocardiography is a test that uses sound waves to produce live images of your heart. The image is called an echocardiogram. This test allows your doctor to monitor how your heart and its valves are functioning. The images can help them get information about: • the size of the heart, for instance, if there is any change in the chamber size, dilation, or thickening • blood clots in the heart chambers • fluid in the sac around the heart • problems with the aorta, which is the main artery connected to the heart • problems with the pumping function or relaxing function of the heart • problems with the function of heart valves • pressure in the heart An echocardiogram is key in determining the health of the heart muscle, especially after a heart attack. It can also reveal heart defects, or irregularities, in unborn babies. Getting an echocardiogram is painless. There are only risks in very rare cases with certain types of echocardiograms or if contrast is used for the echocardiogram. Your doctor may order an echocardiogram for several reasons. For example, they may have discovered something unusual in other tests or while listening to your heartbeat through a stethoscope. If you have an irregular heartbeat, ...